Automatic Inventory Item Transformation for Virtual Avatars

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual process of enabling or disabling inventory items for avatars in virtual universes is cumbersome and hinders the ability to fully experience business and social interactions, as users must manually manage items through software controls.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for automatically transforming inventory items based on predetermined criteria, including location and surrounding environmental factors, using an automatic inventory item transformation tool that assesses characteristics and applies transformations such as enabling or disabling visual, functional, security, or linguistic items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual changes are made to enable or disable inventory items using software functionality, then users can control inventory item access, but the process becomes slow and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of inventory item managementVSAvoidtime required for manual changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically transforms inventory items based on environmental factors without requiring manual user intervention. The avatar's inventory items are self-adjusting according to location, time of day, and surrounding conditions, eliminating the need for users to manually enable or disable items

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures transformation criteria and rules in advance, so that when an avatar enters a specific environment, the appropriate inventory items are automatically transformed according to predetermined conditions, saving time during actual use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual management of inventory items is required, then users maintain control over items, but the cumbersome nature impedes avatar's ability to experience business and social experiences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different virtual environmentsVSAvoidease of experiencing virtual experiences

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The inventory system dynamically adapts to different virtual environments by automatically transforming items based on real-time environmental factors such as location, time of day, and surrounding conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows seamless adaptation without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors environmental factors and uses this feedback to automatically adjust inventory items. The transformation criteria are evaluated based on current conditions, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to changing environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8187067B2Automatic transformation of inventory items in a virtual universe

Publication Date: 2012.05.29 ACTIVISION PUBLISHING INC

AI summary

An approach that automatically transforms an inventory item of an avatar that is online in a virtual universe without requiring manual changes is described. In one embodiment, there is an avatar locator component configured to locate an avatar that is online in the virtual universe. An inventory item transforming component is configured to automatically transform an inventory item associated with the located avatar that is visual, functional, security or linguistic in nature.